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Johannesburg - South African sports minister Fikile Mbalula congratulated cricketer Hashim Amla and golfer Ernie Els on their respective successes on United Kingdom soil on Sunday.
Amla notched up 311 not out - the highest individual batting score by a Proteas batsman - against England on the fourth day of the opening Test at the Oval in London with the South Africans poised on sealing a likely victory on Monday.
Els, meanwhile, won the British Open in the English capital that ended his 10-year major victory drought.
"This is a sign of good things to happen on the British soil," Mbalula said in a statement.
"'The Big Easy' (Els) steadily gave South Africa a clinical finish to lift the highest golfing honour in the UK.
"The standing ovation Els received on Sunday, comes at the time when we prepare to compete with nations of the world during the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic games.
"This can only symbolize more glory for us, as a country, for the months of July and August."
Mbalula, who on Saturday presented Proteas captain Graeme Smith with the South African flag on his 100th Test, went on to praise Amla's historic effort earlier in the afternoon.
"Words can't express how I feel about South Africa's Sport Star of the Year," Mbalula said on Amla.
"He just keeps creating waves and moving mountains."
